Change must occur to be proactive

To the Editor,

     I am writing to express my support for the Jones County Conservation Mon Maq Dam project. I think a couple of things are important to bring to the public’s attention.

     The Jones County Conservation Board (JCCB) has been researching alternatives for the dam for 10 years. This isn’t a project that just started and is following the funding.

     We should applaud the JCCB for having a proactive approach to the dam’s future. It is, and has not been, serving the purpose for which it was created. The JCCB knows that at some point it will fail. Water always wins. It is not a matter of IF it will fail, it is WHEN.

     Whether we are proactive and remove a part of the dam or wait until it fails, it will cost taxpayer money. Currently, there are grant dollars in place to cover the costs associated with full or partial removal, and there would be no additional tax levied on Jones County citizens to pay for the dam project. Are the taxpayers of Jones County paying for the removal? Yes, of course, but so are the taxpayers of all of the other states. Using the grant dollars we have now spreads the cost over many. If we have to pay for removal and other expenses once it fails, the burden will be put on Jones County taxpayers alone. Projects all over the nation are taking advantage of your federal tax dollars with these types of grants. If we don’t take the money, another project definitely will. I, for one, think it is wonderful that some of those federal tax dollars come back to Jones County for our projects from time to time.

     Conservation Director Brad Mormann has done an excellent job providing facts, alternatives and compromises for the dam. The compromised alternative that leaves a piece of the dam is a wonderful way to provide a historical monument, while still allowing for fish and floater passage on the river.

     I hope that the JCCB understands that the voices in dissent are generally always louder than the non-vocal majority. The petitions that are being circulated show very little information and facts about the project. Most residents of Jones County realize that in order to grow and evolve, government must be proactive and change must occur.

Sincerely,

Brad Hatcher
Stone City, Iowa